Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) announced on Friday that he will be taking paternity leave after the birth of his daughter this week.
In a press release, the representative said, "Sydney and I are proud to welcome our daughter Isla into the world. These past few days together as a new family have been wonderful, and we are lucky that mom and daughter are healthy and home."
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He stressed his honor to serve Arizonans but noted that his greatest responsibility is being a parent.
Gallego took the opportunity to advocate expanded parental leave. "No parent should have to choose between being there for their newborn and returning to work. That's why we must break the stigma and fight for federal solutions that allow all parents to take the leave they deserve," he said.
He is also father to a son named Michael.
Sydney and I are proud to welcome our daughter Isla into the world. These past few days together as a new family have been wonderful, and we are lucky that mom and daughter are healthy and home. pic.twitter.com/VcRlENvi9c
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) July 7, 2023
Gallego noted in the release that he is a member of the Congressional Dads Caucus, which supports bills aimed at supporting parents and families.
The Arizona Democrat is campaigning to unseat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who was elected as a Democrat but switched to be an independent last year. Sinema still caucuses with the Democrats, however.
Gallego is confident that he will come out the victor in a possible three-way matchup with Sinema and a Republican. “We’re going to get, like, 90% of the Democratic vote. And again, because we are willing to do this,” he told the Washington Examiner this week. “We’re willing to do this with not just Democrats, but with independents. We will go to Republican areas and talk to Republicans. This is how you win.”
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Sinema has yet to decide whether she will seek reelection in 2024. In two interviews earlier this year, Sinema didn't indicate if she would seek reelection, but an April report from the Wall Street Journal claimed that the senator and her aides have been meeting to prepare for a 2024 reelection bid.
Republican Kari Lake, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2022 and has since contested the election results, is widely speculated to launch a bid for Senate in 2024. Lake enjoyed the endorsement of former President Donald Trump during her campaign and echoed his claims about the 2020 presidential election being stolen.